Tia and Jasmin Criss, twin sisters from Philadelphia, have made history at Cheyney University, graduating as valedictorian and salutatorian at the nation’s oldest HBCU.

The sisters reached the top two academic honors together, marking a rare and inspiring achievement for both their family and the university community. Their accomplishment highlights years of academic discipline, leadership, and consistency throughout their college journey.

Cheyney University, founded in 1837, holds the distinction of being the oldest HBCU in the United States, making the Criss sisters’ achievement even more meaningful within a historic academic setting.

Their story has drawn attention for not only their academic excellence, but also the unique moment of twin siblings simultaneously earning the top two graduating honors at a single institution.

Magic Johnson is reflecting on what he called a “rare privilege” after delivering two HBCU commencement speeches in a single day, addressing graduates at both Stillman College and Tuskegee University in Alabama.

The Basketball Hall of Famer and business executive spoke during a busy commencement season, noting that it is uncommon for a single speaker to be invited to multiple HBCU graduations—especially within the same state on the same day.

In a post shared after the events, Johnson thanked both institutions for the opportunity, highlighting his visits to Stillman College during its 150th anniversary celebration and Tuskegee University, one of the nation’s most historic HBCUs.

At Stillman, Johnson delivered remarks to graduates and also received an honorary Doctorate of Business Administration. He later spoke at Tuskegee University, where he addressed a large crowd in the stadium, with additional audiences gathered in overflow spaces.

Johnson’s message focused on leadership, discipline, and global ambition, encouraging graduates to be “bold, strategic, global, active, and intentional.” He also pointed to the impact of HBCUs in producing Black professionals across multiple fields, citing their outsized role in developing judges, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and CEOs.

HBCU commencement speakers delivering multiple addresses in the same season remains uncommon, placing Johnson alongside a small group of notable figures participating in similar dual engagements this year.

Other speakers this commencement season include Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, who have also addressed multiple HBCU graduating classes.

Johnson’s remarks centered on economic empowerment, personal branding, and preparing graduates for emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and global business.

Charlie Neal, the legendary broadcaster whose voice helped bring HBCU sports into national prominence, has died following an illness. He was 80 years old.

Neal spent decades building a career rooted in preparation, storytelling, and a deep respect for Black college athletics. Born on October 28, 1945, he became much more than a play-by-play announcer—he became one of the defining voices explaining why HBCU sports matter.

At a time when Black college football and basketball received little national coverage, Neal helped change that reality by helping build platforms that treated those games with professionalism and visibility. His work helped elevate HBCU athletics from overlooked competition to nationally recognized tradition.

A pioneer at BET and beyond

In 1980, Neal joined the founding of Black Entertainment Television (BET), where he became a key figure in establishing national coverage of HBCU sports. He served as lead play-by-play announcer and executive producer for sports programming, helping shape both the broadcast schedule and the presentation of games.

For many fans, Neal became the voice of Saturday afternoons in HBCU football and basketball, calling matchups across conferences including the MEAC, CIAA, SWAC, and SIAC.

A voice that preserved HBCU history

Neal was known for more than calling plays—he gave context and meaning to what viewers were watching. He frequently connected current athletes and teams to HBCU legends like Walter Payton and Jerry Rice, helping audiences understand the historical depth behind every game.

His broadcasts helped preserve the culture of HBCU athletics, highlighting not just competition, but marching bands, campus pride, coaching legacies, and community tradition.

He also formed a long-running broadcasting partnership with Hall of Famer Lem Barney, becoming one of the most recognizable duos in HBCU sports media.

Continued influence across networks

After BET moved away from sports coverage, Neal continued his career with major outlets including ESPN, where he called the first football game aired on ESPNU. In later years, he remained active with HBCU GO, continuing to lend his voice to the programs he helped elevate.

Honors and legacy

Neal’s impact was widely recognized across college sports. He was inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame, CIAA Hall of Fame, and Black College Football Hall of Fame. In 2023, he became the first HBCU representative to receive the Chris Schenkel Award, one of broadcasting’s highest honors.

Reflecting on his career, Neal once said, “I have been blessed… I have been able to do things some people can’t even dream of doing.”

Charlie Neal’s legacy is not only in the games he called, but in the visibility he helped create for generations of HBCU athletes and programs. He helped ensure that Black college sports were seen, heard, and remembered.

Claflin University secured the 2026 CIAA Baseball Series Championship in dominant fashion, defeating Virginia State University 24–0 in the title game in Ettrick, Virginia.

The Panthers capped off a strong three-day run that included an early 5–4 win over Virginia State and a thrilling 7–6 walk-off victory over Bluefield State. Their championship performance sealed the series in emphatic style.

Virginia State fought its way back through the elimination bracket after its opening loss, beating Lincoln University 5–2 and then overpowering Bluefield State 15–5 to earn another shot at Claflin in the final. However, the championship rematch was one-sided as Claflin delivered a commanding performance to close out the tournament.

Bluefield State opened the series with a narrow 4–3 win over Lincoln (PA) before falling in elimination play.

All-Series Standouts

The All-Series Team featured 12 players across all participating schools, with Claflin leading the way with four selections. The Panthers were highlighted by Series MVP Neo Drew.

Notable selections included:

• Neo Drew (Claflin) — Series MVP
• Christian Hill (Claflin)
• Devon Whitehead (Claflin)
• Leslie Johnson (Claflin)
• Antonio Boone (Virginia State)
• Hector Rivera (Virginia State)
• Gavin Stevens (Virginia State)
• Jade Greenidge (Lincoln PA)
• Fred Perry (Lincoln PA)
• Anderson Moreno (Bluefield State)
• Grayson Peel (Bluefield State)
• James Germosen (Bluefield State)

Edward Waters University captured the 2026 SIAC Baseball Championship with a gritty 6–4 win over Spring Hill in Macon, Georgia, securing another title for one of the conference’s hottest programs.

The victory gives the Tigers their second SIAC championship in three seasons, finishing a dominant postseason run that showcased consistency, clutch hitting, and strong pitching. Edward Waters ended the year on an 11-game winning streak and went undefeated (4–0) in tournament play.

Their path to the title was anything but easy. The Tigers opened the tournament with a narrow 12–11 win over Benedict, followed by another tight 8–7 victory over Miles. They then defeated Spring Hill twice in succession, including the championship game, to claim the crown.

In the final, Edward Waters relied on timely offense and key pitching performances. Tournament MVP Andres Carracciolo contributed two hits, an RBI, and a stolen base. Bobby Torres, an All-Tournament selection, added two hits and three RBIs to help drive the offense.

On the mound, starter Tyler Pfirrmann delivered 4.1 innings with six strikeouts, while freshman reliever Ty Mitzel earned the win after shutting down Spring Hill with 4.2 innings of strong relief work.

The championship adds another milestone to a standout season for head coach Reginald Johnson, who also surpassed 400 career wins during the year.

Several players also earned conference honors, including Daniel Donaldson-Fountain (SIAC Player of the Year) and Torres (Utility Player of the Year). Pfirrmann earned First-Team All-SIAC recognition, while Angelo Prieto and Jordan Smith received Second-Team honors.

With the SIAC title secured, Edward Waters now awaits a potential berth in the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament.